2024 FIM International Six Days Enduro (ISDE) day five results from Spain where the French World Trophy team peered through the fog on the penultimate day to finish comfortably ahead of USA who pull clear of Spain with just Saturday’s motocross test to go.

2024 ISDE Spain day 5 in a nutshell:

• “I can hear a bike coming, sounds like Garcia, can you see him?” “No!” This is how day five of the 2024 Six Days began. New tests for the final day out on the going included a scenic hilltop but no-one could see the buena vista thanks to stubborn Galician fog. It livened things up for riders who were not only facing a memory challenge for a test they walked a week ago, but also one they couldn’t see too well.
• Here’s Josep Garcia’s POV...

 

 

 

 

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• The fog seemed to affect some of the front runners more than others with ‘creative line choices’ in the first test, some of which were allegedly outside the tapes so we heard…
• In the end the organisers cancelled ST5, the second visit to the enduro test, although confusion reigned a little as the lead Trophy riders completed the test and it began to clear for the later competitors including the women who said it was better than the first lap. The cancellation was much to the disappointment of the mass of home fans on the hill – although they were part of the reason after they mobbed the track too much.
• You could see the point, safety and all that, but there’s an argument that enduro should mean riders adjust to the conditions. If things are difficult then so be it, you ride to those conditions. Hey ho, maybe we’re getting old and just don’t want enduro to turn into MotoGP…
• In terms of the World Trophy contest, day five saw no changes to the status quo with France now leading by seven and a half minutes from USA. The three-times winners, and runners-up in ’23, have just the single timed motocross test on a track next to the paddock. With some decent MX riders in their team, it should be a formality.
• We don’t mind pointing out once again that the boys in blue – Theo Espinasse, Leo Le Quere, Hugo Blanjoue and Julien Roussaly – have been like glue this week in the paddock, on the tests, the time checks and waiting zones and of course on the time sheets. Day after day they have each finished comfortably inside the top 20. It’s no wonder they are leading.
• Team USA men now look to have nailed second place behind the French. They retook P2 from the home boys yesterday and enter day six’s motocross test with a comfortable buffer over Spain who are secure in third.
• Rumours floated around that Josep Garcia had a bike issue today, an oil leak was the word on the ground. On the back of the Verona and Verzeroli retirements on day one (both also Farioli /KTM factory bikes). But the would he make it questions were quashed as Josep clocked fastest times in four of the five tests to win the day 14.99 ahead of Holcombe, Espinasse, Samuele Bernadini and Max Ahlin completing the top five.
• Each day has thrown up some different names in the test scratch timesheets and Austrian Lukas Neurauter has made name for himself more than once. No disrespect but the Austrian team but they don’t usually trouble the scorers but Lukas slotted in behind Garcia on one test today.
• The Junior contest sees France still tantalisingly close but, barring a complete disaster (remember last year in the final MX test anyone?!), they remain too far adrift to challenge Sweden. Like yesterday, Albin Norrbin and Axel Semb have failed to quite match their teammate Max Ahlin. Max finished top five scratch today after placing third yesterday behind Garcia and Holcombe. But Albin’s 30th and a sick Axel just inside the top 40 means they lost a little ground but are doing enough to maintain an almost two-minute lead heading into the final test.
• By the same token the USA Juniors have a two-minute margin over Australia for third and, though the Aussie have some spectacular riding from Gus Riordan in particular, the US Juniors should be good with their advantage.
• USA Women are on the verge of another victory with a three minute 40 margin after Brandy Richards ticked off her fifth straight day victory this ISDE. Unlike Italy three years ago, she hasn’t quite won every test but almost, chiefly thanks to Rachel Archer being here this year for New Zealand.
• Australia’s women are comfortably second, 3’40.50 adrift with Sweden on course to compete the WWT podium but a hefty 20-plus minutes down.
• The Club category is surely also sewn-up already for team Italy who could more or less walk the test tomorrow and still win with a 16’34 lead. Le Puy en Velay French team are second with the American GTBN looking set for P3 after XC Gear lost time today.
• The final day promise to be a relief, exciting and potentially a bit chaotic if the Galician weather has anything to do withh it. 130 trophy and 389 Club riders remain int eh contest. All will take their turn on the motocross test track next to the paddock tomorrow followed by the awards ceremony. Expect the bar to be busy tomorrow afternoon...

2024 ISDE day 5 results, World Trophy:

Junior World Trophy:

Women’s World Trophy:

Scratch result after day 5 (top 30):

Club Trophy (top 19):

Photo Credit: Future7Media | Andrea Belluschi + Nicki Martinez